Humidifier



Feb. 26, 1946.

-Ill G. w. SKILBECK HUMIDIFIER Filed Dec. 8, 1942 away 15M W [cl/yak Patented'Feb. 26, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application 33:32:: No. 468,191.

This invention relates to improvements in humidifiers of the type used with steam heating systems or with any suitable source of steam.

In general, humidifiers Of this type are supplied with steam from a source thereof and in one manner or another convert the steam to a vapor suitable to be discharged into the atmosphere of a room to humidify the same.

Various designs of humidifiers have been proposed for this purpose among which is the humidifier forming the subject matter of Patent No. 2,111,437 issued to Gerald W. Skilbeck, March 15, 1938. All of these past humidifiers, however, have been objectionable from the standpoint that they are incapable of satisfactorily handling the relatively large accumulation of condensate which forms therein during their operation.

In the aforementioned Skilbeck patent an overflow for condensate was embodied in the humidifier which overflow supplied an exposed asbestos evaporating pad with moisture capable of exerting a humidifying influence on the surrounding atmosphere.

Most other typ s of humidifiers attempt to evaporate the condensate and thus inject moiswhich though small and compact is capable of.

continuously discharging large quantities of ture into the atmosphere, but this procedure is obviously objectionable in that complicated constructions embodying float operated valves are required, while the capacity of such humidifiers is obviously limited to an almost negligible amount unless an extremely large reservoir for the condensate is provided. Even then, the slow process.

of evaporation is utterly incapable of maintaining 40 to 50% relative humidity in the atmosphere of a, building or room during cold weather condi- .tions.

With the above and other objections to past humidifiers in mind this invention has as its object the provision of a small compact humidifier of extremely simple construction and which is designed to solve the problem of the accumulated condensate hereinbefore mentioned.

A further object of this invention is to provide 1 a humidifier oi the character described with an outer steam receptacle and an inner humiditying receptacle in telescoping relationship there with so that said inner receptacle is superheated water vapor into the atmosphere, and which is capable of maintaining any predetermined high level of humidity.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

The accompanying drawing illustrates two complete examples of the physical embodiment of the invention constructed in accordance with the best modes so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

Figure l is an elevational view of a conventional steam heating radiator shown connected with a riser for'supplylng the radiator with steam and illustrating the application of the humidi-" sections of a steam radiator.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing in which like numerals indicate like parts the numeral 5 represents a conventional steam heating radiator which as is customary comprises a plurality of spaced vertical radiator sections or flanges communicated at their upper and lower ends.

The top of one end section 6 of the radiator is connected through a valved supply pipe I with a source of steam under pressure such as the riser 8 so that steam is free to flow into the radiator sections whenever the valve 9 in the pipe line I is open. 4

An outlet pipe (not shown) usually connected with the opposite end section of the radiator provides for the return of the condensate in the customary manner.

The humidifier I0 01 this invention is adapted steam mounted e'ltheron one or the end sections 6 of the radiator or directly on the riser 8. It desired, a humidifier can be mounted on both the cup-shaped and has its side wall in spaced telescoping relationship to the side wall orthe receptacle I! so as to form a steam Jacket l6 therebetween. An expanded rim i1 at the upper open' end or the inner humidiiying receptacle substantially closing the upper'end oi the shell I8 is brazed or soldered to the shell 'to mount the huniizditying receptacle within the outer receptaole The outer receptacle i2 is provided with a nipple it having a bore providing an inlet port it through the side of the receptacle so that when the nipple ls-threaded into a suitable opening 20 in either the end section B of the radiator or the riser I steam under pressure flows into the interzlor of the outer receptacle in a volume depending upon the size of the inlet port 19.

A tube 2| connects the bottom oirthe outer receptacle I2 with the radiato or riser at a. point spa-c substantial distance elow the nipple l8 (1 tube is bent adjacent to 1 connection tear section or the rls as at 22 to seal I117 by the tube and water seal providee 202- the controlled return :2 the in the receptacle [2 and collects in the tube to the interior or the radiator or the pressure line 8 in a manner to be later described.

Steam is conducted from the interior of the reassure receptacle i2. pressure within the humidiiying receptacle it is always less than that of the outer receptacle thus insuring quiet operation olthe humidifier. To further guard against noise, the

bottom of the inner receptacle is packed with a quantity of metal wool 30, preferably copper,

and a superimposed washer 3i of asbestos or other similar material, held in place by a washer 32. A

clamping nut 33 threaded onto the upper exterior of the valve and loosely encircling the screw 28 firmly holds the filling in the bottom oi the inner receptacle about the discharge ports 26 oi the valve.

Steam discharging into the inner receptacle through the port- 25 and the outlets 26 oi the valve reaches the atmosphere through a downwardly extending tube I4 flxed to the upper cap it and which directly communicates the interior of the receptacle with the atmosphere.

One of the main features 01 the humidifier. of this invention resides in the fact that nearly all of the condensation in the unit takes place in the outer receptacle I! from whence it flows into the discharge tube 2i to be returned to the steam pressure line or radiator as shown.

When the device is initially placed in operation, it will be understood that much or the steam entering the outer receptacle I2 will be condensed and the water: 01 condensation will flow down through the tube 2| and rather quickly The water 0! conreduce P es-sure w: plus the -w ski; or water with- I I2 in the tube 2| equals the pressure applied. to

'40 the discharge of the water seal 23, and during ceptacle l2 to the interior of the humiditying receptacle it by means or a valve 24 having a restricted inlet port 25 and a pair of vertically spaced discharge ports 26. The valve is mounted in an upright position on the bottom wall 21 or the humidilying receptacle with its inlet 25 communicating with the interior oi. the outer receptacle and has an adjusting screw 28 threaded therein to provide means for limiting the free motion or a ball check 29 which serves to close the inlet port 25 against the admission or air into the radiator through the humidifier and which governs the amount or steam flowing into the interior of the humidilying receptacle depending upon the adjustment of the screw 28. The outer end of the screw 28 projects through a hole in the upper cap i4 and is slotted to facilitate adilu ment of the valve.

The volume oi steam flowing into the inner receptacle through the valve 24 thus depends uponthesizeottheportflandtheamountoi free motion of the valve under the influence oi pressure. The adjusting screw 28 is capable 0! being turned down to a position at whichit holdstho ball 22 in a position closing the port 2! at which time the humidifier is rendered inoperative. or it may be adjusted to a position such as shown in Figure 3 permitting a maximum volumoorsteamtobedischargedintotheinterion" or the inner humiditying receptacle through the portll.

Because ot'the fact that the inlet port 25 of .thevalveissmallerthantbeinlet lli'ortheouter continued operation of the humidifier, water will be returned to the pressure system in accordance with the amount of condensation taking place within the outer receptacle l2.

Inasmuch as the-humidifier or this invention may be used on so called high pressure steam heating systems the tube 2i is preferably elongated to an extent permitting the maintenance of a much higher level of water therein than that shown.

- Consequently it will be seen that throughout the operation of the humidifier the return of the condensate back into the pressure line 8 or radiator is controlled by means of the pres-' surebalance eilected between the steam system and the combined eflect or reduced pressure within the outer receptacle i2 and the weight of water in the tube 2|.

While the 'humidiiyin unit any steam radiator or' riser it is also possible to install the same in radiators at the time or their manufacture as illustrated in Figure 4.

As here shown one or the radiator sections 6' for the radiator is cast with a laterally extending'chamberll having a threaded opening 4| iuitstopwaliclosedbyaoorrespondingiy' threaded supporting collar 42 to which the humidifying receptacle it is secured as by threads 48. The humidiiying receptacle it thus is detachabiy held by the collar "within the chamber 40, to be exposed to and supplied with steam in the radiator, it being 'understood that the humidii'ying receptacle II is similar in all redescribed is an independent unit capable of being attached to has a hole therein through which the valve ad- .iusting screw 28' projects to the exterior of the radiator.

In both embodiments of the invention, it will be appreciated that some slight degree of condensation will take place within the humidifying receptacle, but such an occurrence is desirable for the reduction of steam odors. The condensate collecting in the bottom of the humidifying receptacle is boiled oil by the steam in the outer receptacle l2 or the chamber 40 and in the steam jacket l6, and the vapor in rising through the asbestos washer is filtered to further reduce odors. Y I

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art,

that this invention provides an exceedingly sim- 7 pic but efilcient humidifier which though small in size has an exceptionally large capacity for humidifying purposes, and which provides for the return of condensate back to the steam lines in a novel manner.

. prising a duct connected between the discharge port and the steam source, and a water seal in the duct, said duct having a vertical length such as to accommodate a column of water therein which in conjunction with the pressure obtaining in the chamber overcomes maximum steam pressure at the discharge end of the duct whereby condensation formed in the chamber accumulates in the duct and has substantially no temperature modifying influence on the steam entering the chamber and whereby said accumulated condensate is returned to the source of steam in a controlled manner substantially continuously during operation of the humidifier whenever the weight of condensate in the duct offsets the difierence in pressures existing in the chamber and the source of steam.

2. In a humidifier of the character described: a high pressure chamber having means for introducing steam under pressure thereto from a source thereof for subsequent discharge to the atmosphere, said high pressure chamber having a discharge port therein adjacent to its bottom; means for returning condensate formed in said high pressure chamber to said source of steam against the pressure thereof comprising a duct I connected between the discharge port and the steam source; and means in the duct for permitting condensate formed in the chamber to collect in the duct despite the application of maximum steam-pressure from the source to, the discharge end of the duct, said duct having a vertical length such as to accommodate a column of collected condensate therein which in conjunction with the pressure obtaining in the chamber at least haling steam thereto from a source of pressure and for discharging steam to the atmosphere, and

having a discharge port therein adjacent to its bottom, means for returning condensate formed in the chamber to said source of steam pressure comprising: a duct connected with said port in the bottom of the chamber and having its discharge endconnected to the source of steam under pressure entirely independently of the means for introducing steam to the chamber and at a point spaced at distance therefrom; and means in the duct by which condensat former. in the chamber is allowed to collect in the duct despite the application of maximum steam pressure from the source to the discharge end of the duct, said duct being ofsufficient vertical length as to accommodate a weight of condensate therein which at least equals the pressure difiereritial existing between the chamber and the steam source whereby such condensate which exceeds said pressure differential is returned to the steam source against the pressure thereof and whereby all of the condensate formed in the chamber is capable of being accommodated in the duct during operation of the humidifier.

4. In a humidifier of the character described: a high pressure chamber into which steamunder pressure from a source thereof is admitted for controlled discharge to the atmosphere, said chamber having a discharge port in its lower portion through which condensate formed inthe chamber is discharged; a reservoir wholly exteriorly of the chamberfor collecting such condensate; and means entirely independent of the steam inlet for the high pressure chamber for connecting said reservoir with the source of steam under pressure and for enabling condensate to collect in the reservoir against the opposition of maximum steam pressure from the source until the weight of collected condensate exceeds the pressure differential between the steam source and said high pressure chamberand to thereafter return such condensate in excess of the pressure difierential to the source of steam under pressure, said reservoir being large enough to hold such collected condensate so that it has substantially no temperature modifying influence on the steam admitted to the high pressure chamber.

5. In a humidifier of the character described: a high pressure chamber into which steam under pressure from a source thereof is admitted for controlled discharge to the atmosphere; noncommunicating steam inlet and condensate discharge means for supplying steam under pressure to said chamber from a source thereof and for returning the condensate to said source, respectively, said discharge means being connected to the chamber at a lowermost portion thereof; andmeans forming a part of the discharge means for effecting a seal therein for preventing steam from the source from backing up through the discharge means toward the high pressure chamber and to thereby permit condensate to collect in the discharge means, said last named means permitting the return of condensate to the source of steam pressure whenever the weight of collected condensate in said discharge means in conJunction with the pressure within the high pressure chamber exceeds the pressure at the steam source.

6. A humidifying device or the character described comprising: an upright outer receptacle closed except for discharge openings in its top and bottom portions and a side inlet substantially medially thereof; means for mounting the receptacle on a steam pressure duct with its side inlet' in communication with the interior of the duct so that steam underpressure flows into the receptacle; an inner humidlfying receptacle substantially closing the upper portion of said outer receptacle and having its interior communicating with the atmosphere through the upper discharge opening of the outer receptacle; a valve opening in response to steam pressure within the outer receptacle for admitting steam into the humidifying receptacle and consequently to the atmosphere; and a tube projecting downwardly from said lower discharge opening in the outer recepta cle for connection to the steam duct at a point spaced a distance from said mounting means for the receptacle and having a vertical length such as to accommodate a weight of condensate therein at least equal to the pressure differential between steam pressure in the duct and that of the outer receptacle whereby condensate formed in the outer receptacle collects in the tube exteriorly of the outer receptacle, and said tube being shaped in such a manner that condensate collected therein forms a water seal for preventing steam in the duct from backing up through the tube while permitting collected condensate in excess of said pressure difierential tobe discharged to the duct against the pressure thereof.

7. A humidifying device of the character described comprising: an outer receptacle open at its top and having a discharge opening in its bottom portion anda side inlet for the admission of steam thereto; means for mounting the receptacle on a steam pressure duct with its side inlet in communication with the interior of the duct so that steam under pressure flows into the outer receptacle; an inner humidiiying receptacle substantially closing the upper portion of the outer receptacle. and having its interior communicating with the atmosphere through the open end of the outer receptacle, said inner humiditying receptacle having a port for admitting steam thereto from the outer receptacle, the passage of steam from the outer receptacle to the inner hur'nidiiying receptacle causing steam pressure in the outer receptacle to be less than that obtaining within the steam duct;- a tube projecting downwardly from said lower discharge opening 00 in the outer receptacle for connection to the steam duct at a point spaced a distance from said mounting means tor the humidifier and having sufllclent vertical length to accommodate a weight of condensate therein at least equal to the pressure differential between the duct and outer receptacle whereby condensate formed in the outer receptacle collects in the tube, said tube being shaped in such a manner that condensate collected therein forms a water seal for preventing steam in the duct from backing up through the tube while permitting collected condensate in excess of said pressure differential to be discharged to the duct against the pressure thereof; a pressure responsive valve for controlling the admission of steam to the huniidifying receptacle adapted to close in the absence of steam pressure; and means accessible at the exterior of the device for determining the extent to which the valve opens and for enabling closure of the valve at will.

8 A humidifier of the character described having a chamber to which steam is admitted for controlled discharge to the atmosphere, characterized by: non-communicating steam inlet and condensate discharge means for supplying said chamber withsteam from a source of steam under pressure and for returning condensate formed in said chamber to the same source of steam;

and by the provision of means in said condensate discharge means whereby condensate collected therein prevents steam from the source from backing up into said chamber through the discharge means and the condensate collected therein.

9. A humidifier of the character described hava ing a chamber to which steam from a source is admitted for subsequent discharge to the atmosphere and in which the discharge of steam from said chamber causes pressure therein to be less than at the source of steam characterized by: the provision of condensate discharge means connected with the chamber at a lowermost portion thereof and-so formed that collected condensate in said discharge means prevents .steam from the source from backing up through the collected condensate toward the chamber with a predetermined maximum pressure at the source and a predetermined maximum pressure differential between the chamber and the steam source; and further characterized by the provision of means for obtaining said predetermined pressure differential despite higher pressures than said pre- 7 determined maximum pressure at the source of steam whereby the level of condensate in said discharge means may be prevented from rising in correspondence to higher steam pressures at the source.

GERALD w. SKILBECK. 

